The selection of Scottsdale plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Cohen to appear in Phoenix magazine's annual "Top Doc" issue is the third time in 5 years the breast augmentation specialist has been chosen by his colleagues.

Dr. Robert Cohen, a Scottsdale plastic surgeon, was voted by his medical peers as a top doctor in his specialty in the region.

The honor is prized by physicians representing several specialties, including plastic surgery, within Phoenix-area practices. This is the third time in 5 years that Dr. Cohen has been included in the magazine's Top Doc issue.

"It is always gratifying to be honored in the Top Doc issue," Dr. Cohen says. "It reflects my commitment to providing excellent care for each of my patients. That's the top priority at my practice."

The Top Doc issue is its most popular, according to Phoenix magazine, selling about twice as many copies as other issues each year. The list is determined through a survey of 5,000 randomly selected physicians in the Phoenix area. They are asked to nominate physicians whom they believe to be the best in their field. Only board-certified physicians are included on the list.

"Patients use the Top Docs issue as a reliable resource when researching physicians," Dr. Cohen says, "because it's a good gauge of the reputation a doctor has among his or her peers. But it should be only part of a patient's process when selecting a plastic surgeon. Training and experience are important, as are the before-and-after photos on a surgeon's website."

Dr. Cohen himself conducts research to improve the practice of plastic surgery. The Scottsdale surgeon specializes in breast augmentation and recently published results of a 5-year study showing that textured breast implants placed under patients' pectoral muscles help reduce the risk of capsular contracture.

"I think it's important that plastic surgeons continue to look for ways to improve results for our patients," he says. "Striving for excellence is the foundation of my practice, and that includes medical research."

Dr. Cohen performs a range of procedures such as breast lift, tummy tuck, and facelift at his Scottsdale practice. He says he has a loyal patient base and hopes he can reach even more patients with this distinction.

"Earning the respect of my colleagues is important and gratifying," Dr. Cohen says. "That isn't something that occurs overnight, nor is it something to be taken for granted. It requires producing consistently excellent results year after year through hard work and offering advanced cosmetic surgery techniques."

Dr. Robert Cohen is a board-certified plastic surgeon (www.robertcohenmd.com) offering extensive options for plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation. Dr. Cohen received his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine and trained in general and plastic surgery at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Cohen also received advanced surgery training in the prestigious W. Grant Stevens aesthetic surgery fellowship. He has presented numerous plastic surgery research studies through peer-reviewed journals and professional societies and is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is also a course instructor in complex breast surgery for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.